In a move that says more about the increasing leverage of a well-honed campaign by consumers and activists than it does about sweeping changes to come in food processing, General Mills announced yesterday that regular Cheerios would soon be free of all genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Fiat is buying the 41.46% of Chrysler it did not already own from the Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA) affiliated with the United Auto Workers union for $3.65 billion in cash. The deal, which is expected to close later this month, follows protracted negotiations and avoids an initial public offering.